Gossip and Slander

8/10/2019 Gossip and Slander

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/gossip-and-slander 1/13

GOSSIP AND SLANDER – THE DEADLY SINS

"The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts

of the belly." (Prov. 18:8 KJV)

Steve and Sarah are Christians who were a part of a closely-knit family. Steve caused

division in the family by slandering Sarah so that their entire family turned against

her. They believed his lie, though he had no evidence for the statements he had

made. As a result, Sarah no longer has contact with her family. She has been

ostracized as a result of a lie.

Because the sins of gossip and slander are rampant among Christians, there are many

other cases like this. Many Christians have been deceived and hurt their own

relatives, even their own Christian families. They have slandered their own Christian

friends. Many times Christians have slandered others causing defamed reputations

and broken hearts.

These sins of gossip and slander are widespread and have serious consequences.

Many of us are not aware of the devastation resulting from a slip of the tongue, saying

something negative about somebody else, or making false accusations. I cannot over

emphasize the severe consequences of this sin; I have seen much harm as a result.

In our generation the breaking up of families is common. Often we think this is

caused by the pressures of the world around us: financial problems, the lack of

friendships due to our busy schedules, or pornography to name just a few. However,

our most dangerous attack is from our own willful sin. In particular, slander and

gossip.



Speaking Falsely

Gossip is defined in Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary as “a person who

habitually reveals personal or sensational facts.” Gossip “is a rumor or report of an

intimate nature.” Slander is defined as “the utterance of false charges or

misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation.” Many of us

think that false refers to anything obviously untrue. However, according to definition,

it is also something that “is adjusted or made so as to deceive,” “is tending to

mislead,” “is not faithful or loyal,” or “is inconsistent with the facts.”

The word talebearer is used for the word gossip in the King James Version of the

Bible. The word gossip is used in the New International version (NIV). Talebearer

defines the word gossip well. Proverbs 11:13 states, “A talebearer reveals secrets, but

he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.” The Bible also states “Whoever

spreads slander is a fool.” (Prov. 10:18a) “A truthful witness gives honest testimony,

but a false witness tells lies.” (Prov. 12:17 NIV) “Like a club or a sword or a sharp

arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.” (Prov. 25:18 NIV)

One of the Ten Commandments (which is often forgotten) warns against giving false

testimony or witness. The following passage is from Matthew 19:16-19 NIV:

A man came up to Jesus and asked, 'Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal

life?' …Jesus replied,…'If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.' 'Which

ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do

not steal, do not give false testimony[1], honor your father and mother, and love your

neighbor as yourself.'

http://usarepent.com/Chapters/Gossip.htm#_edn1





Clearly Jesus taught that giving false testimony (e.g., gossip and slander) is sin.

Paul, expounding on the commandments says,

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has

fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery,'

'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,'

'You shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, are all summed

up in this saying, namely, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love

does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Rom.

13:8-l0)

The NIV states it in this way, “…Whatever other commandment there may be, are

summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no harm to

its neighbor….”

Christians need to beware if they are sharing intimate information, speaking false

statements or misrepresentations to others about other people. For we are not loving

our neighbor and we are not loving God. When we state something false, we are

doing ill to ourselves, to another person and to God. “The hypocrite (or the godless)

with his mouth destroys his neighbor.” (Prov. 11:9a) God is not pleased when you

speak falsely. He deals very seriously with this sin because slander and gossip can

destroy. For “Death and life are in the power of the tongue….” (Prov. 18:21)

The Mouth is the Heart's Mirror



Jesus made it very clear that what comes out of a man's mouth is what is in his heart.

If slander and gossip are coming out of your mouth, then that's what is inside your

heart. If you are making false statements or slandering you have hurtful behavior

towards others within you. Jesus said,

Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,'

but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.' …For out of the

heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony,

slander. These are what make a man 'unclean….'(Matt. 15:10,11,19,20 NIV)

Note that false testimony and slander are included with murder, adultery, and

stealing.

Stop Gossiping and Slandering

Those who have been involved in gossip and slander need to repent so that harm will

not come to them and others.

For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our

offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and

treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting

oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is

driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the

streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns

evil becomes a prey. (Is. 59:12-15 NIV)



As this scripture states, when we slander and gossip it causes justice to be driven

back. It hides the truth and righteousness stands at a distance. As a result,

unrighteousness prevails. Injustice prevails. People who are innocent become hurt.

The people that you are speaking falsely about get hurt. In the example above, not

only was Sarah hurt, but also her family, friends and acquaintances.

Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these

gates to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says:

Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. Do not trust

in deceptive words and say, 'This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the

temple of the Lord!‟ If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with

each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do

not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own

harm, then I will let you live in this place…. Will you steal and murder, commit

adultery and perjury, burn incense… and follow other gods you have not known, and

then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, „We are

safe‟- safe to do all these detestable things? Has this house, which bears my Name,

become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord. (Jer.

7:2b-7,9-11 NIV)

If you are a Christian and you are involved in sin of any sort, in particular gossip or

slander, you are not safe to say, “I am going to church” or “I am religious.” God sees

your heart. God knows what you are doing. Others will know what you're doing as

well.



To the wicked [which include supposed Christians who are walking in darkness

in the areas of slander and gossip or other sin], God says: 'What right have you

to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction

and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you

throw in your lot with adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness

your tongue to deceit. You speak continually against your brother [or sister]

and slander your own mother's son [or daughter]. These things you have done

and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you

and accuse you to your face. (Ps. 50:16-21 NIV)

Danger!

There is a danger to those who are involved in promoting this sin.

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: 'See, I will refine and test them, for

what else can I do because of the sin of my people? Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it

speaks with deceit. With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor, but in his

heart he sets a trap for him. Should I not punish them for this?' declares the Lord.

„Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?' (Jer. 9:7-9 NIV)

During Old Testament times, if a malicious witness were to take the stand to accuse a

man of a crime, the two men involved in the dispute were to stand in the presence of

the Lord before the priests and the judges who were in office at the time. The judges

made a thorough investigation and if the witness proved to be a liar, giving false

testimony against (or slandering) his brother, then they were to do to him as he



intended to do to his brother. This is how they purged the evil from among them. The

rest of the people would hear of this and be afraid and never again would such an evil

thing be done among them. They were to show no pity. Life for life; eye for eye;

tooth for tooth; hand for hand; foot for foot. “A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who pours out lies will not go free.” Instead, “He who pours out lies will

perish.” (Prov. 19:5,9b NIV) “A false witness will perish, and whoever listens to him

will be destroyed forever.” (Prov. 21:28 NIV) “Whoever secretly slanders his

neighbor, him I will destroy…” (Ps. 10l:5) It was (and is) a very grievous matter to

promote falsehood or to be a false witness. Just as grievous is the one who becomes

part of this by receiving and believing the lie.

In addition to the Old Testament, what does the New Testament have to say about

slander... those who speak falsely about someone else? When the people were asking

John the Baptist what they needed to do to repent, he gave specific instructions to

different individuals. One particular group he told to stop accusing people falsely.

(Luke 3:14) Paul taught the following: “…I am writing you that you must not

associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy,

an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man, do not even

eat.” (I Cor. 5:11 NIV)

If persons that are involved in gossip and slander do not repent of their deeds, the

Lord states that they will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said,

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone

according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,

the Beginning and the End.



Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree

of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who

practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone

who loves and practices falsehood.

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the

churches…. (Rev. 22:12-16a NIV)

He that loves and practices falsehood will not be in the kingdom of God when the

consummation comes. Believers that follow these lies of gossip and slander will be

separated eternally from God if they don't repent for practicing and loving

falsehoods. Notice that falsehood is in the same category as witchcraft and sorcery

and murderers. God Himself says in Proverbs 6:16-19 that there are six things He

hates, seven that are detestable to Him and included in that list is a false witness who

pours out lies.

The Solution

What should a Christian do who is a gossiper or slanderer? A Christian who is

involved in this, either spreading or listening to gossip and slander, needs to repent.

Go before God, tell Him that you are sorry and ask Him to change your heart. For it

is from your heart that this wickedness has proceeded. You also need to watch your

tongue. There is a scripture song from Psalm 141:3 that says, “Set a watch, 0 Lord,set a watch, set a watch before my mouth. Keep the key, Oh Lord, keep the key, keep

the key of my lips. As the scripture says it shall be, a prayer from the heart of me. Set

a watch, oh Lord, set a watch, set a watch before my mouth.”



I recommend praying or singing a prayer something like that.

Next, obey God and do not spread false reports. Stop speaking falsely about other

people. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness or being part of

circulating a lie. “Do not go about spreading slander [or being a tale-bearer] among

your people. Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the Lord.”

(Lev. 19:16 NIV)

I recommend meditating on the following scriptures concerning the tongue:

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever ofyou loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and

your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the

face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the

earth. (Ps. 34:11-16 NIV)

He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to

ruin. (Prov. 13:3 NIV)

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. (Prov. 21:23

NIV)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

(Prov. 18:21)

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his

tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our



Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their

distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:26 NIV)

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider

what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of

evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course

of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. Out of the same mouth come praise

and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water

flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine

bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:5,6,10-12 NIV)

Dealing with Gossip and Slander

What should one do if confronted with gossip or slander? If it is obvious that

what is being said belongs in one of these categories, then simply tell the person that

you are not interested in that information. Confront them about being a gossip or

slanderer as appropriate. If it is not obvious, or if the information you hear raises a

serious concern about the one being spoken about, go to that person and find out if

that statement is true. Do not pass on the questionable information to others during

this process. Doing this will stop (or slow) the sin of gossip or slander from spreading

and possibly rescue someone who is in sin. You will keep your own conscience clear

and yourself free from sin, too.

What should a Christian do who realizes a Christian is a slanderer? The Bible states if

your brother sins go to him. If he listens to you, you've won over your brother. If he

doesn't, take one or two with you. If he doesn't listen to him, take it to the church. If



he doesn't listen to the church, than do not associate with him. As stated in I

Corinthians 5:11,12 NIV:

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself

a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a

swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you

not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 'Expel the wicked

man from among you.'

Clearly slanderers, if they do not repent of their sin when confronted, are to be

expelled from the church. Others who participate in their slander by believing and

promoting their lies become slanderers themselves and are also told to repent. If they

don't, they are to be expelled from the church, too. You're not even to eat with such a

one but to treat them as an outsider. Perhaps then their soul will be saved in the Day

of Judgment. Remember,

…Where there is no talebearer, strife ceases. (Prov.26:20b)

And

A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man who talks too much. (Prov. 20:19 NIV)

Comfort to Victims

Finally, what is God saying to those that are victims of slander?





are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and

of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other

kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not

be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to

begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for

those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, 'If it is hard for the righteous to be

saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?' So then, those who suffer

according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and

continue to do good. (I Pet. 4:12-19 NIV)[2]





Documents

Gossip and Slander